V S Naipaul (Vidiadhar Surajprasad Naipaul 1932– ) a writer of novels, short stories and travel books, born in Trinidad, who has lived in Britain since 1950. He is perhaps best known for his comic novels, many of them set in the West Indies, including A House for Mr Biswas (1961). He received the Nobel Prize for literature in 2001. Eugene O’Neill (1888–1953) a US writer of plays who received the 1936 Nobel Prize for literature. He won Pulitzer Prizes for his best-known play, Long Day’s Journey into Night, and for Beyond the Horizon (1920), Anna Christie (1922) and Strange … Continue reading P@ul’s ‘On Writers’ : 4 | Sushanta Paul

Fill in the blanks with appropriate word/ words: 1) Your pay is high___for your work. 2) You won’t be unsuccessful___you work. 3) He was sentenced___death for murder. 4) The sun___ set. We began our match. 5) Her___life was spent in the East. 6) The beggar was found___at the door. 7) I was not used to___. 8) It is high time you___the room. 9) We showed him___to do it. 10) ___that glitters is not gold. 11) If I___won a lottery I would have set up an English School. 12) Death is___to dishonour. 13) We heard her___. 14) He acted as if … Continue reading P@ul’s Miscellaneous Grammatical Items : 1

A) Fill in the gaps using infinitives where necessary: 1. ___ err is human. 2. I taught him ___ read. 3. He is about ___ die. 4. He seems ___ be an honest man. 5. He appears ___ be a rich man. 6. We take him ___ be a fool. 7. The old man is too weak ___ walk. 8. I am glad ___ receive your letter. 9. This is a house ____ let. 10. We went to the field ___ see the game. 11. I walked fast ___ avail the bus. 12. ___ speaking the truth, he is an … Continue reading P@ul’s Practice Sheet on Infinitives, Participles and Gerund : 1

Correct the following sentences if necessary:   A) UNNECESSARY PREPOSITIONS 295. Answer any five of the follow­ing questions. Your answer to this question is wrong. You must reply/respond to my questions. 296.We approached near the camp. He is approaching to 80. 297.He asked to the teacher about it. He enquired where I lived. 298.They attacked against the enemy. They suddenly made an attack on us. The police are launching an attack on drug dealers. 299. I am awaiting for their reply. 300.The dog balanced with a ball on its nose. We tried to strike a balance between justice and mercy. … Continue reading P@ul’s Write Right : 4

Correct the following sentences if necessary: 392. His remarks infer that he is unhappy in his married life. I implied from his remarks that he was unhappy. 393. A number of students was absent from class today. 394. A chair has four feet. 395. A general leads an army. 396. A landlord rents out a house. 397. A nice cold breeze is blowing. 398. A week has past since I saw her. 399. After we went there. 400. Akib and Adib are the same age but Akib is older than Adib. 401. All that glitters are not gold. 402. All … Continue reading P@ul’s Write Right : 5

Correct the following sentences if necessary: A) OMISSION OF PREPOSITIONS 224.She asked me a drink. She asked me a question. 225.The murderer couldn’t dispose the body. He disposed his books on the table 226.What did you dream? Young people dream glory and riches. Do you often dream at night? 227.She explained me the matter. 228.Who is knocking the door? Don’t knock the glass; it’s fragile. 229.I was listening his song. She never listens my advice. I heard a funny noise. I warned him not to do it but he wouldn’t listen. 230.How much did you pay the book? Have you … Continue reading P@ul’s Write Right : 3

Correct the following sentences if necessary: A) WRONG USE OF MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 134.Death lays its icy hands on all. 135.That room’s windows are open. It is a day’s work only. We took a night’s rest. We enjoyed a week’s holiday. Dhaka’s population is very big. That was the court’s decision. All the boat’s crew were drowned. 136.This is a girl’s school. We enjoyed two week’s holiday. 137.Its him / me. 138.He is taller than me. 139.It is a secret between you and I. I am senior to he. 140.There is no use in me learning it. There is no reason … Continue reading P@ul’s Write Right : 2

Correct the following sentences if necessary: A) USING WRONG PREPOSITIONS 1. I was absorbed at / with the book. 2. He was accused of murder. Are you accusing me with cheating? He was charged of / for murder. 3. I am not accustomed for getting up so early. He was used to smoke. They used to visiting me regularly. 4. He is afraid in his job. Raghib was afraid from/with the dog. 5. He aimed on/against the bird. He shot at the man. 6. She was annoyed with the rain. He was indignant at the beggar. 7. Parents are anxious … Continue reading P@ul’s Write Right : 1

Synonyms Directions: For each word written in capital letter, select a word having the similar meaning. ANECDOTE (A) antidote (B) article (C) anger (D) fable (E) ancestor PERTURB (A) pretend (B) deregulate (C) agitate (D) tutor (E) arrive REITERATE (A) reverend (B) dream (C) repeat (D) tremor (E) misery RAMIFICATION (A) precision (B) consequences (C) report (D) cognizance (E) legality INADVERTENT (A) unintentional (B) inadequate (C) inertia (D) inundate (E) ingest EMOLUMENT (A) entertainment (B) excitement (C) reprimand (D) pay (E) praise AUGMENT (A) shrink (B) plastic (C) contract (D) extend (E) slip SUSTAINABLE (A) transient (B) endurable (C) relevant … Continue reading P@ul’s Synonyms & Antonyms